Isaac Haagen

Isaac Haagen is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota's Department of Animal Science, specializing in dairy cattle genetics and wellbeing. He holds a PhD (2021) and BS (2015) in Animal Science from The Pennsylvania State University, followed by postdoctoral research with the USDA-ARS-National Animal Germplasm Program (2022). His research focuses on optimizing dairy cattle production through genetics, crossbreeding strategies, and improving youngstock wellbeing. Key areas include health cost modeling in organic dairy systems, telomere biology, and genomic selection for feed efficiency and disease resistance.

Dr. Haagen has received notable awards such as the USDA NIFA AFRI Pre-Doctoral Fellowship (2019) and multiple recognitions from the National Dairy Shrine. His work bridges genetic innovation with practical dairy farm profitability, as seen in studies like 'Association of sire net merit with farm profitability' (2025). He actively contributes to the University of Minnesota Extension Dairy Team, translating research into actionable solutions for farmers.

His publications span dairy cattle health parameters, crossbreeding outcomes, and genetic resource preservation for shrimp aquaculture. Current research trends emphasize holistic approaches to animal welfare, precision breeding, and sustainable dairy systems.